Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1969-1970 — Page 8

centre for nursery workers and youth leaders, as well as providing wider training facilities for the staff of welfare agencies.

4. Budgeted departmental expenditure for the year increased to $19.9 million, an increase of $4 million or 25.5% over the previous financial year, and this is expected to rise to $22.5 million in 1970-71. In keeping with this trend of growth, the establishment (total number of posts in the Department) increased from 1,048 posts in the previous year to 1,429. Many of the new posts at the professional level were filled by recruitment of trained social workers and, in spite of the fact that both Universities continue in their production of qualified graduates in social work, the demand is still expected to outpace the supply as the scope of the Department's work continues to show rapid growth.

5. Financial assistance in support of the activities of voluntary welfare organizations is made available by Government on the advice and recommendations of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee. Aid on a recurrent basis is in the form of Government subventions while grants in aid of capital projects of a social welfare nature may be obtained from the Lotteries Fund. Budgeted expenditure for subven- tions increased by 17.5% from $9.9 million in the previous year to $11.6 million during the period under review and this is expected to rise to $12.7 million in 1970-71. Grants from the Lotteries Fund were made in aid of 37 projects covering a wide range of activities including equipment for the Outward Bound School, a swimming pool for the Ebenezer School and Home for the Blind, and 3 libraries for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association. Expenditure from the Fund amounted to $3.5 million.

THE NEW PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME

6. The present public assistance scheme, benefiting some 7,500 families and individuals at an annual cost of about $5 million provides assistance, mainly in the form of dry rations to people who have lived in Hong Kong for five years and whose income is below $40 per adult per month after deducting rent and school expenses. Children under 9 are counted as half an adult. Various improvements have been made to the scheme from time to time but it has been recognized that the present arrangements are inadequate. The levels of assistance are too low and the issue of dry rations takes no account of either the basic household needs required to maintain a minimum standard of living,

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